Thanks, but that isn't the load we're discussing. The 00 buckshot loads are all still in production it seems, I doubt they're going anywhere, at least for now. But who knows? With many police departments dropping shotguns in favor of ARs, and with the civilian obsession of them, less and less interest is being paid to the fighting shotgun. Who knows if these loads will even be around 10-20 years down the road?
The police and home defense shotguns will never, ever die. Many citizens live in areas of strict gun control where a shotgun is easily legal but an auto loading rifle is less legal with various laws and regulations on them. Also, once you start to hack down the allowable magazine maximum, the shotgun becomes more and more of a legal competitor, what's a six round tube against a 10 round magazine in 223 carbine? Some people worry about having to modify, sell, or hide their carbines as laws change, the old pump shotgun is an old stand by that will allow people to defend themselves with legal weapons, no matter how much we hate the laws governing arms. Besides, many people prefer shotguns anyway, shot for shot killing power, or the clay and bird on the wing shooter who uses his shotgun in the field, as well as at home.
As for police, we see many departments lagging or refusing to upgrade to carbines or rifles for different reasons. Hoplophobic departments and regions may not find it politically possible to arm their police with carbines or rifles, too much backlash or the people in city hall disagreeing with it. How much trouble did we have getting many cities and jurisdictions to allow the use of hollow points for police? Ye old shotgun is something they can arm their men with, its the politically correct weapon. If you can't convince the most ignorant of them by dressing up your boys with nice wood stock Mini 14's and M14's for parade, then at least you can give them shotguns with approval.
The other part is simple cost, to be all brutally honest a $300 870 or Mossberg 500 is perfectly fine for patrol cars and general duty out of the box. Sure, some departments dump loads and loads of money into super kool tacticool shotguns, but a brand new Wingmaster for hunting ducks with a shorter barrel is just OK. Minimal upkeep, cheap to keep in duty, cheap to purchase, its simply too inexpensive to simply throw out the window. Too many old one in departments not to keep around. Also, even if you want to start the whole shotgun v carbine thing, never forget that the shotgun's sterling reputation is not sullied, it still works. A 60 year old pump gun isn't obsolete, still works just fine, if its still kicking around just keep using it.
Lastly, shotguns can use less lethal ammunition with no modifications. Shotguns are now finding a niche in door breaching. The whole "carbine vs. shotguns" is pointless and worthless when you realize there is no " x vs. y" but instead a reality of "x AND y". Rifles/carbines may displace shotguns to some extent, never replace them. There's no sane reason why every patrol can't have one next to the carbine/rifle rack.
The shotgun doesn't need innovation to stay relevant. Even if these Flite Control rounds are an improvement and a good new design, the shotgun's future in home defense/security didn't hinge on it, or any new development. Old buckshot loads and old fashioned foster slugs proved themselves and will still be with us. I think the combat shotgun's demise is a bit overstated.
